CAMPAIGNERS bidding to save an internationally-important work of art featuring of one of Burnley's most famous sons are hoping a lottery grant will provide the funds.

The portrait of John Towneley has recently come on to the market, but Towneley Hall needs to raise £11,000 by the middle of next month to save it for Burnley.

The hall has managed to raise funds totalling £38,000, but still needs a further push to meet the asking price of £49,000.

The museum is appealing for help to buy the picture before it can be sold abroad. So far they have received almost £500 in public donations.

The portrait is of John Towneley (1697-1782) who was the third son of Charles Towneley, the owner of Towneley Hall. It is a pastel portrait drawn by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau (1715-1783), one of the great French 18th-century pastellists, in 1749 in Paris.

It used to hang in Towneley Hall, but was kept by the family when Burnley Council bought the hall. It is now in the possession of a Parisian art dealer.

He has offered it to Towneley Hall at the reduced price instead of the estimated market value of £75,000, but may have to sell it if the hall can't raise the cash.

He has agreed to hold off taking the picture to an art fair in Holland at the start of next month to give the hall more time to raise the funds it needs.

Groups including the National Art Collections Fund, Victoria and Albert fund, Towneley Hall Society and Edwards Stocks Massey bequest have already raised £38,000 between them.

Keeper of Art at Towneley Hall Fiona Salvesen said: "We are hopeful the lottery grant will be successful and will fill the shortfall. We are grateful for the public donations and to the picture's owner who has agreed to hold off selling the picture for a while longer to give us some more time to raise the money we need."

If you are able to make a donation to help the hall acquire the portrait contact: The Keeper of Art, Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum, Towneley Holmes Road, Burnley, BB11 3RQ. Tel: 01282 424213 Fax: 01282 436138.